In Dr. Arun Vishwanath's latest opinion piece for CNN.com, he tackles the issue of "ransomware," software that encrypts files on a computer until a ransome is paid. Current attacks on hospitals, law firms, small businesses and individuals have already led to significant ransoms paid to attackers, and could easily escalate to attacks on computer-based technology including vehicles, demanding immediate ransoms for safety. As a result, 2016 has been dubbed the Year of Online Extortion. Vishwanath's piece offers solutions for increased safety, including trainings for citizens on how to avoid spearphishing emails, and security clearances to business servers based on good internet hygiene practices rather than roles or titles. Read the article in its entirety here.

Resources for MA and PhD Students

To become a candidate for an advanced degree you must submit, for Departmental and Graduate School approval, a program of study consisting of a coherent list of graduate courses that have, or will have, been taken and a title of the projected thesis or project (for an MA student) or a title of the projected dissertation (for a PhD student).